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Apack basket (orpackbasket) is a type ofbasket with straps designed to be carried as a backpack. Archaeological evidence of Native American pack baskets dates as far back as 900 BCE.[1] Modern pack baskets derive from adaptations made to the Indigenous designs by French Settlers.[1] Today, they are typically referred to as Adirondack pack baskets due to their association with theAdirondack Mountains ofNew York State.
Pack baskets are traditionally made fromblack ash,willow, or in modern times,reed. Traditionally, material was sourced from live ash trees, but in modern times logs are used. Wood is split into strips, and thinner horizontal strips are woven around thicker vertical strips.[1][2] Modern pack baskets include additional features to improve durability and function, including wooden feet on the bottom and a structured interior base.[1]
In their traditional usage, pack baskets were made by the individual intended user, rather than a single crafter making many. As a result, the shapes and sizes of the baskets varied widely.[1]
Pack baskets have traditionally been used by trappers, hunters, and fishers to carry equipment.[1] Their use by Adirondack guides for tourists in the 19th century has led to an association with traditional Adirondack imagery, alongside items such as theAdirondack guideboat.